A Leading Program for Undergraduate Engineers

LeaderShape Inc., a nonprofit organization, has developed week-long institutes in leadership for undergraduate engineers. The institutes are built around workshops that focus on personal values, commitment, building a sense of community, integrity in organizations and leadership abilities. The workshops are followed by support and advice from the professional staff and executive volunteers who run them. The students work in clusters of 10-14, but each individual works on a personal vision they would like to see accomplished in society at large. Through the seminars, students explore this vision. At the end of the week they write a paper detailing the vision and how they plan to carry it out. In the evenings, executives from major corporations talk about ethical problems they've faced. The program has been a success at Purdue University and others, and is backed by corporate sponsors.